On the evening of Friday 11th November members of the Criterion Theatre will remember those citizens of Coventry who lived through the dark period of World War II and experienced the effects of the Nazi Blitzkrieg.
Local author and Criterion member Margaret Egrot has written two short plays inspired by listening to older people recall the years 1939 – 1940 and the impact the outbreak of the war had on their lives. The first of the two plays is called ‘Dancing Cheek to Cheek’, the title being that of a popular song of 1939. It is not a ‘war play’ as such, but includes recollections of the First World War as well as hints of the pending recurrence of hostilities. It is 25 minutes long.
The second play is called ‘Not Tiggerty Boo Tonight’. ‘Tiggerty Boo’ is the title of a popular hit of the period, made famous by the Joe Loss Orchestra. In choosing the title, Margaret explains that she was looking to contrast the jolliness of this song, and the start of the evening in November 1940, with what happened later. This play is also 25 minutes long.
Following the warm reception of its première performance at the Big Comfy Bookshop in Fargo Village, Margaret and the cast were invited to read it at the Criterion on the anniversary of Armistice Day, just a few days before the 76th Anniversary of the first Coventry Blitz, which occurred on the night of 14th November 1940. This was the bombing raid which destroyed most of the city centre including the old cathedral. The devastation of this night was so great that Joseph Goebbels coined the expression ‘coventrieren’ – to destroy a town by means of aerial bombardment.
The actors reading the two scripts will be Doreen Belton, Belinda Campbell, Gennie Holmes, Calum Lake and Pete Meredith.
The event will be free and the bar will be open from 7:00pm.